School Holiday Fines

zagfles

maman wrote: »

I'd try to stop him from doing doing that if you possibly can.

It's bad enough when parents take children out of school in June /July because although it may not be important to the adults children enjoy the sports and picnics and fetes that happen when all the tests are out of the way.

But going in September, at the start of a new school year, is downright irresponsible. It's not just about catching up with work but a new teacher, new friends etc. Whatever else you do I'd make sure that the Headteacher knows you disapprove and do everything you can to help with her work. September is a new start.

Yup, completely stupid thing to do, point him at the latest MSE email where it talks about getting cheap late deals for the summer hols.

redkingfisher

What about being fined when your child is off sick too often? We are totally outraged that we have had to pay because the school have not accepted that our child was ill more than usual this year. We have written to the attendance officer and left a message on the phone for her, but we have been ignored. We cannot help our child being ill more often than usual. So angry!!!

foxster99

redkingfisher wrote: »

What about being fined when your child is off sick too often? We are totally outraged that we have had to pay because the school have not accepted that our child was ill more than usual this year. We have written to the attendance officer and left a message on the phone for her, but we have been ignored. We cannot help our child being ill more often than usual. So angry!!!

I suspect there is a little more to this.
What usually happens if a child has low attendance over a period of time due to illness is that the school will ask that you provide medical confirmation of the need for the absences. They are within their rights to ask for this. If they have asked and you haven't provided some form of confirmation then that's when you'll have a problem.
Some questions to clarify things:
Has the school asked for some medical confirmation of the need? If so, have you provided what they asked for?
Has your child been to see your GP during this time? If so, was an illness diagnosed?
How much time off have they had and over what period of time?

maman

foxster99 wrote: »

I suspect there is a little more to this.
What usually happens if a child has low attendance over a period of time due to illness is that the school will ask that you provide medical confirmation of the need for the absences. They are within their rights to ask for this. If they have asked and you haven't provided some form of confirmation then that's when you'll have a problem.
Some questions to clarify things:
Has the school asked for some medical confirmation of the need? If so, have you provided what they asked for?
Has your child been to see your GP during this time? If so, was an illness diagnosed?
How much time off have they had and over what period of time?

That's right.

One of the reasons I disapprove of parents taking children their children out of school in term time is because it's giving them the wrong messages. First is that it's OK to just break the law (however much you might disagree with that law).

Another is that going to school is a close parallel for going to work. It's preparing children for adult life.

At work, if you had loads of time off then your employer would soon expect certification. After a while they'd possibly contact your GP (through Occupational Health) to ask why you weren't fit for work. It's a similar situation for schools and pupils and their education Welfare Officers.

sevenhills

maman wrote: »

One of the reasons I disapprove of parents taking children their children out of school in term time is because it's giving them the wrong messages. First is that it's OK to just break the law (however much you might disagree with that law).

If parents take their child out of school for a special wedding or funeral, they will receive in fine, just like you will receive a fine for parking over the 3 hours in an Asda supermarket.


They will not get a criminal record, its not breaking the law.




Term time school fines are a tax on the poor, I bet you have never seen a private school in the news for giving out termtime fines.
The average 2 child family are fined £240 for taking their child out of school, whilst the rich pay nothing, certainly not an increase based on their wealth; as happens now with speeding fines.

sevenhills

maman wrote: »

That's natural of course but schools can't possibly operate on that one to one 'me first' basis they have to think of the majority. So while it might suit some parents to have two weeks off in June to go on holiday, schools are committed to a national exam timetable so don't have that flexibility.

Taking holidays in exam time is a different issue, but schools these days are very flexible, if you have a family issue schools can be flexible, they even have numerous after school sessions and kids catch up at home.

foxster99

sevenhills wrote: »

If parents take their child out of school for a special wedding or funeral, they will receive in fine, just like you will receive a fine for parking over the 3 hours in an Asda supermarket.

Not necessarily. Most schools authorise short absences for these things. We authorise a day for these if in the UK and 3 days if abroad.

They will not get a criminal record, it's not breaking the law.

That depends. If it is settled via a paid Fixed Penalty Notice then you are right. However, if the FPN is not paid or the matter goes straight to prosecution then you do get a criminal record if judged guilty.

Term time school fines are a tax on the poor, I bet you have never seen a private school in the news for giving out termtime fines.
The average 2 child family are fined £240 for taking their child out of school, whilst the rich pay nothing, certainly not an increase based on their wealth; as happens now with speeding fines.

Private schools are exempt from the same legal attendance requirements, so they can't issue fines anyway. Doesn't mean it's right though IMHO.

maman

sevenhills wrote: »

If parents take their child out of school for a special wedding or funeral, they will receive in fine, just like you will receive a fine for parking over the 3 hours in an Asda supermarket.

They will not get a criminal record, its not breaking the law.

Term time school fines are a tax on the poor, I bet you have never seen a private school in the news for giving out termtime fines.
The average 2 child family are fined £240 for taking their child out of school, whilst the rich pay nothing, certainly not an increase based on their wealth; as happens now with speeding fines.

I'm sure you're aware that the principle I'm arguing is that it's wrong to just ignore rules because it doesn't suit you. IMO it's even worse when you're teaching children that it's perfectly acceptable to do so because your want to have your own way and go on holiday.

Whether the law is enforced through fines, a court appearance or prison isn't really the point.

Surely, the genuinely poor can't afford to go on holiday in any event. Other parents are able to save up for a holiday in the generous 13 weeks that their child has time off school.

sevenhills

maman wrote: »

I'm sure you're aware that the principle I'm arguing is that it's wrong to just ignore rules because it doesn't suit you.

I like to follow rules, I like to obey the law, those are different things.
I rarely get speeding fines because the speed limit are guided to what is safe.
There are laws/rules which are in place to keep us all safe, term time fines are not one of those.
These are rules that I would gladly help people overcome, they are wrong. Are there any rules/laws which you disagree with?

sevenhills

foxster99 wrote: »

Not necessarily. Most schools authorise short absences for these things. We authorise a day for these if in the UK and 3 days if abroad.

Local authorities do choose not to proscecute if just 5 days holidays are taken, but schools can only give permission in exceptional circumstances, funerals and weddings have been deemed not to be exceptional.